Cincinnati’s Got the Blues

This September the Queen City is rolling out the red carpet for my Blue Footed Booby! Cindependent Film Festival has included Birds of a Feather in their official selection for the 2026 festival!

Darwin, my film’s protagonist, is a neurodivergent teenager who navigates school bullying alongside his first crush. It’s a heartwarming animated short about inclusion and kindness. Despite social isolation, Darwin’s fixation on South American birds keeps him feeling anything but blue. He turns perceived limitations into super powers, ultimately transforming himself into a Blue Footed Booby, gaining the confidence to approach his teenage crush - a girl named Birdie. 

I highly recommend checking out the festival which highlights brilliant filmmakers along with offering master classes, Q&A sessions, and networking events. And while you’re in Cincinnati, a city known for the Reds (its major league baseball team), definitely check out the city’s ample arts and culture… especially its Blues!

The Taft Art Museum of Art (circa 1820) is a good place to start. This landmark building downtown is filled with world-famous murals, a delicious cafe, and rotating art. Recently I was inspired by their exhibit, Indigo and the Art of Quiltmaking. The quilts dated from the 1800s - 2015 and ranged from classic pinwheel structures to abstract motifs.

I’ve been working on a self-made wardrobe for the past two years. The exhibit, which included a number of items on loan from the International Quilt Museum in Lincoln, NE motivated me to get sewing.

I returned home from that visit ready to finally cut into some Japanese fabric I had purchased on another trip last year. Below is my indigo kimono style jacket, a design which I felt honored the history and traditions of the textile’s origin.

The quilted art also inspired me to put those textile scraps I save (close to 99% of my unused fabric is repurposed) to artful use by making my very first quilt! 

Ubiquitously associated with blue jeans, the rich deep hues of indigo often evoke feelings of comfort, tranquility, and introspection. Indigo, in my opinion, is more than a color. It’s a vibe. And similarly cool vibes are plentiful in Cincinnati. For the textile enthusiasts out there, check out Sew Valley - a zero waste garment factory, sample room and incubator space. I joined a class there on the traditional craft, Japanese Shibori, during which I dyed my own fabric and discovered the surprising joy of delving deep into the blues.

Cultural events and sports are plentiful around the waterfront downtown. For the athletes and outdoor enthusiasts there are twenty-four perfectly lined pickleball courts at Sawyer Point park. Painted in bold contrasting colors of red and blue, the courts wrap around the Ohio River where cyclists, runners and walkers make use of the well paved trails. On a sunny day, the river sparkles with millions of beautiful diamonds - and they will gladly blind you to the fact that the water might in fact be more brown than blue. 

There’s plenty of good blues and jazz music found in places like Northside’s Lounge and OTR’s Schwartz Point. Nearby in OTR on Main Street is a tiny fabric shop - Moreau Fabrics on Main Street. Their motto resonates … “We believe that every stitch is a step towards self-expression, creativity, and self-sufficiency.” I’ve discovered many gems there including this patchwork indigo denim. I’m thinking of sewing a fall jacket … or maybe something to wear to the Cincinnati premiere of my short film at Memorial Hall. 

The fact that the Cindependent is hosting their annual festival at Memorial Hall in OTR is extremely special to me. Built in 1908 by the Grand Army of the Republic, the Hamilton County Memorial Building stands as a monument to the Cincinnati veterans of the Spanish-American War and the U.S. Civil War. The venue partners with the Cincinnati VA Medical Center, where I did much of psychiatry residency training, for a veteran art program. They showcase veteran-created art in exhibitions to support creative arts therapy for healing and recognition. The therapeutic benefit of art in helping people who suffer from mental health conditions far beyond the typical ‘blues’ is truly phenomenol and a vital component of a wraparound treatment plan.

The Memorial Hall venue is intimate and every seat is a good one. Throughout the year there’s a diverse range of performances here, where you can check out anything from Boogie Woogie and Blues music to the Irish Tenors. And of course, Cindependent Film Festival Sept 17-19, 2026, where I’m honored to join other talented filmmakers at the Cincinnati premiere of my film, Birds of a Feather!